|
With the advent of the computer
and Internet age, computer security and Internet safety has suddenly become
a major concern for all users. No longer is your information safe and secure
behind locked doors or safe deposit boxes. Information can be stolen from
within your computer system using just a few simple commands and
unscrupulous people can invade your homes or businesses via the Internet.
(article continued below ...)
Data security - personal computersPersonal computers, commercially available operating systems (that would
be Windows!) and e-mail contain no effective protection against unauthorized
access or theft of your confidential data stored on data disks and hard
drives. A clever (read devious) hacker can read and steal your confidential
data while you check your e-mail or while your are away from your computer.
Enormous financial losses through theft of proprietary information have been
reported and are increasing at intolerable rates. More alarmingly, countless
undetected incidences of theft are continuously occurring and only detected
when it is too late.
How then can you protect your data while at lunch, on vacation or
business trips? Answers to these questions are many and involve the most
rudimentary solutions to high tech gadgetry. The following are 9 ways to
protect yourself going from the least practical to best option.
9. Locking your
computer within theft secure cabinets or closets is
an effective way of safeguarding your data (I did say rudimentary!). This
method is an option only if you have the energy, time and a safe and secure
place to store your computer.
8. You may have
the option of removing your hard drive from your personal computer and
taking it with you. This
method is very effective in preventing data theft but is laborious and also
places you in danger of accidentally loosing your most prized information.
Further, in today's on- the-go business environment, not many people are
willing to sacrifice their time and energy to remove the hard drive every
time they step away from their desks.
7. You
may also take your computer with you. However, similar to the
method of removing your hard drive your may run the risk of loosing your
computer.
6. You may also
place all your sensitive files onto a floppy disk
or other data storage device (e.g. Jaz, Zip etc.) and take it with you.
Again, this method is effective but is also laborious and is not immune to
simple human error such as loosing your disks.
(article continued below ...)
5. A bios lock
is effective against
intrusion attempts by novices but this method can easily be bypassed by
simple manipulation of hardware.
4. A
simple power lock designed to attach to your power source can be
used to prevent data theft. This method may be effective for desktop
computers during short trips away from your desk but it is not the answer
for all other battery- powered computers.
3. Computer
security programs (software only) are
available to prevent unauthorized access by using a password based security
procedure. However, software-based systems are only effective against break
in attempts by novices and can be by-passed with simple software
manipulation.
2. Hardware/software systems are available
to protect your computer more securely than software only systems. They
comprise dual security functions of software and a hardware key that makes
unauthorized access more difficult. Nevertheless, these systems are designed
for modest protection from data theft and are most effective for blocking
unauthorized access when you step away from your computer for a short period
of time. These security systems are usually based on a blocking screen
format. Once the system is activated (via password or by removing the smart
card or token from their respective readers) the blocking screen will appear
and eliminate the possibility of unauthorized users accessing data files.
These systems are solutions for moderate security but can be bypassed given
enough time alone with the computer. VirtualGate is one example of this type
of security system. For more information go to http://www.armadillo.com.hk/virtualgate.htm
1. Encryption software and/or
crypto-hardware/software systems are very effective against data
theft and are commonly used by financial institutions, governments and large
corporations. This is by far the best solution as it combines many of the
advantages of the previous systems. For more information check out
GateKeeper at http://www.armadillo.com.hk/gatekeeper.htm.
About the Author: Dr. Phillip Jen,
Ph.D., Professor at CUHK
(Chinese University of Hong Kong)
| 
